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Upper
Bunyip Action Group
'U B A G' The UBAG Slide Show on 23 May, 2002 The UBAG held its first 'public' presentation on 23 May in the Council Chamber of the Cardinia Shire in Pakenham. Attended by more than 30 people, this event provided an opportunity for local concerned residents to see at first hand and understand some of the environmental and recreational issues and problems that surround the current usage patterns of the Bunyip State Park, and also the grave threats posed by continued logging of the '350 Upper Bunyip' forestry block to the north of the park. Bob Thompson (convener of the UBAG) presented slides that drew attention to the issues and problems, and he reinforced the need for local people to join the UBAG and support its work. He urged those attending to lobby the Cardinia Shire to put the environment first, and he asked that they write letters to their politicians about the issues at hand. Kelly Brooks-MacMillan (secretary of the Cardinia Environmental Coalition) reinforced this message in an eloquent plea for local people to become involved and support the work of local environmental groups like the UBAG and the CEC. Cardinia councillor David Nickell spoke of the need to preserve our natural environment and the forests in particular. He outlined the course of action that he intends taking in this respect, and he made it clear that he will be pressuring his fellow councillors and the Cardinia Shire to make this a priority and to take these environmental issues up to the Victorian Government without delay. Jim McNabb (amateur field naturalist and forest-owl specialist) and Jim Thomas (of the Endangered Species Section at the Healesville Sanctuary) presented jointly about the grave threats to fauna being inflicted by current usage patterns in the Bunyip State Park and the 350 Block. Mr McNabb presented a paper in which he called for concerned people to write letters to the Ranger-in-Charge of the Bunyip State Park, urging greater attention to environmental issues in the Review of the Management Plan of the BSP in 2003. See Jim McNabb's Plea. A Petition to the Legislative Council was launched at the Slide Show, and this is available for downloading at Petition. It is of vital importance that this Petition be circulated widely as another step towards getting these local issues onto the agenda of the Victorian Government. The UBAG extends its thanks to all who contributed to the success of this presentation, and urges all who were there to continue to publicise the issues and spread the word among like-minded people who want to see our parks and forests preserved for recreational purposes. There are compelling recreational and environmental reasons why logging of the 350 Block should cease immediately - and the UBAG seeks your urgent assistance to achieve this goal! We must all do our part to SAVE THIS BLOCK for inclusion into the Bunyip State Park without delay. So... "get on the Bunyip Bus" now, and add your voice to our campaign. If you can help in any way with supply of information, please let the Steering Committee know! Email to Bob Thompson, or fax to 5956 7018. What
is the UBAG? |